Spring construction



G. J. BIRGBAUER, SR

SPRING CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April e, 1965 Filed Jan. 11, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 o l l INVENTOR.

/77' FNZYS".

April 6, 1965 G. J. BIRGBAUER, sR

SPRING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 11, 1963 United States Patent O 3,176,324 SPRING CGNSTRUCTION Gordon l. Birgbauer, Sr., Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.,

assignor, by mcsne assignments, to American Metal Products Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed lan. l1, 1963, Ser. No. 250,853 8 Claims. (Cl. 5-247) This invention relates to a spring construction, and more particularly to a device of this type comprising a frame, a sinuous type spring formed of a plurality of spring strips, and a support for the spring strips to prevent excessive or undue sagging thereof.

More particularly this invention relates to a spring construction in which the spring surface comprises a plurality strips extending between spaced frame members and a primary object of the invention is to provide a support for the spring strips spanning the spring strips intermediate the ends thereof to brace or support the spring strips against excessive sagging when the spring surface is occupied.

Another object of the invention is to provide a support of this type which approaches the ultimate in structural simplicity and comprises one or more nonextensible rodlilre members which extend transversely of the spring strips intermediate their ends to add stability thereto and to prevent undue sagging when the spring surface is in use.

If the invention is employed in connection with a spring construction used in a bed, the frame is usually rectanguiar and comprises a pair of spaced side frame members connected by a pair of end frame members. The spring surface is formed of a plurality of spring strips extending between tlre side frame members and having their ends connected thereto. The supporting means of this invention co-nsists of one or more, preferably two, nonextensible rod-like members connected at their ends to the end frame members and extending transversely of said spring strips and interwoven therewith to alternately engage the tops and bottoms of adjacent spring strips or multiplies of spring strips, to support the spring strips intermediate their length against undue sagging. Thus, with this invention, long spans of spring strips may be employed and supported against excessive sagging when the spring surface is occupied.

This invention may be useful in connection with all types of spring constructions but finds particularly utility when used in connection with spring surfaces comprising a plurality of spring strips each formed by sinuously bending'a suitable spring ...wire into adjacent oppositely disposed loops joined together by straight portions such as shown in the patent to Karl Kaden, Reissue 21,263.

The various objects and advantages and the novel details of construction of one commercially practical ernbodiment of the invention will become more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a plan View of a spring construction showing the invention, certain parts being fragmentarily illustrated;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal section ltaken substantially on the plane indicated by line 2 2 in FIGURE l',

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the portion of FIGURE 1 enclosed by the line A;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by l-ine 4-4 in FIGURE l', and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a corner of the frame member before the same is bent into shape.

"ree

The present invention will be described as employed in connection with a bed frame spring construction, although it will be obvious as this description proceeds that it may be used with equal facility in other types of spring constructions.

In FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the frame member 10 is shown as being substantially rectangular in plan View and comprises a pair of side frame members 11 arranged in spaced relation to one another and connected by end frame members 12. The frame members 11 and 12 may conveniently be formed of angle irons, as shown in FIG- URES 2 and 4.

The frame 1li may conveniently be formed of two 1ongitudinal integral halves which have their confronting end edges welded together as at 13. The corners 14 of each longitudinal half section of the frame may be formed by cutting away the upper web of the angle iron member, as shown in FIGURE 5, to form beveled or chamfered edge ends 15, and further cutting away of the ange of the angle iron to form curved surfaces 16. Thus, at each corner remaining vertical web portion 17 may be bent until the beveled or chamfered edges 1S abut, whereupon the adjacent portions of the angle iron will extend at right angles to one another and these beveled or charnfered edges may then be welded as at 18, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3 to form the integral half sections.

The spring surface 20 of the device is formed of a plurality of spring strips 21, each formed by sinuously bending a suitable spring wire into oppositely disposed loops 22 and 23 which are joined together by straight portions 24. Each end of each spring strip 21 is provided with a hooked end 25 adapted to engage an aperture 26 in the side frame member 11. At spaced points, the opposed adjacent loops 23-23 may be connected by wire links or spacer clips 27 to interconnect and properly locate the spring strips 21. The spring strips 21 at the ends of the spring sur-face 20 are connected to the end frame members 12 by means of coil springs 28 having one end 29 hooked around an adjacent loop of the adjacent spring strip and the other end 30 engaging an aperture 31 in the end frame member 12.

In order to lend rigidity to the frame 10, one or more,

. here shown as two, transverse braces 35 may be provided.

These braces 35 extend transversely of the frame 1t) between the side frame members 11 and have their ends 35a welded to the latter. Apertures 37 may be employed for attaching legs (not shown) in the frame 10.

The spring strips, while being formed, may be coiled on an arc of small diameter, as described in the aforesaid patent, Re. 21,263, which will apply a set or curvature to the spring strips. In applying the spring strips to the frame 10, the hooked ends 25 of the spring strips 21 are engaged in the apertures 26 along one side frame member 1I and the springs are then stretched until the other hooked ends can be engaged with the apertures 26 in the opposite frame member 11.

In beds or the like, it is necessary to use comparatively long lengths of spring strips to span the space between the side frame members 11. With this invention, long spans of spring strips may be safely employed and supported against excessive sagging when the spring surface 20 is occupied.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided an intermediate support for the spring strips which consists of one or more, here shown as two, rod-like members 4t) provided at each end with hook-like portions 41 adapted to engage apertures 42 formed in the end frame members 12. These supporting members 4i) are nonextensible, but they may be slightly longitudinally flexible. These rod-like members 40 extend transversely of the spring strips 21 intermediate the ends thereof and preferably vention.

.adjacent the `longitudinal 'center of the springVV surface 20. The, supporting members 40 are interwoven or interlaced with the spring strips 21 so as to alternately engage Y the Vtop, and bottom surfaces of certain ofthe spring strips'. f

As shown in i1, one preferredarrangement-isKVV to have the supporting jmembersdl-l alternately' engage the tops of fone pair-of spring .strips 21Vand the bottoms rof the next adjacent pair of Aspring rstrips 21,A although, obviously; the supporting members 40 fmay` engage the Y.

multiples of Vadjacent spring strips.

tops and bottomsof adjacent spring strips "or anyk other face 20 is stabilized andthe spring strips 21 are supportedv With the above describedconstruction, the `springusur-,`V

intermediate their en ds so as topbrace the same against excessive displacement when the spring surfaceis occupied. As stated, the rod-like members or supports; 40

are substantiallynonextensible, but-"theymay beslightly v longitudinally exible.`

The-described construction -provides aA simple but effective meansffor accomplishing thepurposes of the in- While onevcommercially practical embodiment of the invention has been described rand illustrated herein some- Ywhat in detail,rit will be understood that various changes maybe `made -as may come within the purview ofthe ac- Y companyng claims.

What is claimedis:

1. 1n :aspring-construction havinga frigid frame and `a spring device including'a pluralityof yextensible spring stripsconnected at their endsto said frame, thatY improvekvment which comprises, Va non-extensible vsupporting member extending transversely of said spring stripsgan'd Vconbeing supported solely by said rigid frame and providing the sole support for the center of said spring' strips against excessive displacement. Y Y i 5'. A spring construction comprising, a rigid frame, a

j plurality of extensible springfstripsA extending across and f connected to said frame in spaced relation to one another,

and an intermediate support for said spring strips compris- Ying a substantially nonextensible member extending trans- /versely ofY said springts'trips and connectedat itsends to said rigid frame, said member vbein'gsupported solely by said rigidjrarne'Y and providing .the sole support for-the center ofsaid springstrips against excessive displacement.

Y6. AV4 spring Vconstruction comprising, a rigid frame, a spring surface comprising a plurality of springstrips each vformed by sinuously bending a spring wire into adjacent oppositely'dis'posedv loops, said spring strips extending across and connected to said framei'n spaced relation to vone another, and a substantially nonextensible supporting memberconnected to ysaid rigid frame andextending transversely-of said spring strips and interwoven therewith to 'alternately engage theftop and bottom surfaces of certain Vof 'said vspring strips to provide the sole'support Yforti-recenter of the 'same against excessive displacement wh'eng'the spring surface Vis occupied. i

7. 'AV spring construction comprising, Aa substantially rectangularlrigid frame,`a pluralityof spring strips each i formed Vby-sinuously bendinga spring wire into adjacent oppositely' disposedY loops, said spring-strips extending nected at-itsends to said rigid frame, said member being l' solely supported by said frame and providing the sole support for the center of said spring strips against excessive displacement. 'f

2. In a spring construction'having-.a rigid frame andaV spring device including a plurality of extensible springV strips connectedat their ends to said frame, that improve-V,rv

ment whichcomprises, a vsubstantially nonextensiblesu'pporting member extending transversely of `said spring- Vstrips and engaging the underside of some of said spring across 'andhaving'their ends connected to vsaid frame in i v extensible supporting member having its ends connectedto f said rigidA frame and extending at right angles to said springxstrips'and .interlaced therewithto alternately ensp'aced relation to one another, and a substantially nony gage the topand bottom surfaces of certain of said spring strips to be'the sole support for'the center of V*the same against undue sagging.y p Y a 85A spring 'construction comprising, a rigid' frame having a pair 'ofA spacedside frame membersconnected at theirends'by a pair of end frame members, a spring surstrips, and means connecting the venclsrot' said supporting member to said rigid frame, saidmember being supported by said rigid frame and providing 'the sole support for the center of said spring strips against excessive displacement.

face comprising aplurality Vof spring'strip's each formed by 'sinuouslyfbending a spring Wire into ladjacent op- Lpositelyfdi'sposed loops, vsaid spring strips extending betweensa'id side rigid frame membersv in'spaced relation toone another and having'their ends connected to said side framel members, and .an intermediate support for 3. -Ina spring construction having a rigid frame anda 'Y spring device including arplurality, of extensible spring strips connectedat their ends to said frame, that improve` ment which comprises, a nonextensible supporting member extending transversely' of said spring strips alternately above and below certain of said spring strips, and means connecting the .ends of said supporting member to said Y rigid frame, said member being solely supportedvby said rigid frame and providing the sole support for the center of said spring strips against excessive displacement. Y

4. In a spring construction having a rigid frame and a spring device including a plurality of extensible springV strips connected attheir ends to said frame, that improvement which comprises, a longitudinally liexible, nonextensible supporting member extending transversely of said spring strips alternately above and below adjacent pairs of said'springstrips, and means connecting the ends of said supporting member to lsad rigid frame, said member 'saidmspring strips Vcomprising a plurality of lrod-like membrs having their ends Ycom iectedto said end Vframe mem- "bers' and `extendingtransversely fof Vsaid spring strips and interlaced therewith to alternately extend above and below vcertain'rif vsaid-spring,strips'to befthe sole rsupport for the lcenter of s aid` spring surface 7against Vexcessive sagging.

'References':CitedliiythaExaininer UNITED sTATESgPArENTs Y ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Emwner. 

1. IN A SPRING CONSTRUCTION HAVING A RIGID FRAME AND A SPRING DEVICE INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF EXTENSIBLE SPRING STRIPS CONNECTED AT THEIR ENDS OF SAID FRAME, THAT IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES, A NON-EXTENSIBLE SUPPORTING MEMBER EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID SPRING STRIPS AND CONNECTED AT ITS ENDS OF SAID RIGID FRAME, SAID MEMBER BEING SOLELY SUPPORTED BY SAID FRAME AND PROVIDING THE SOLE SUPPORT FOR THE CENTER OF SAID SPRING STRIP AGAINST EXCESSIVE DISPLACEMENT. 